We, the founder members of HFC – Uganda after conducting a thorough research in our first operation Districts of Bugiri, Namutumba with Arise and Shine Ministries - Uganda, Bugobi project and Kibuku, we realized that there was increased vulnerability of the Children, Widows, Disabled and communities in general which caused us to decide and start up this Organization in order to address the differe
nt forms of vulnerability as analyzed below;
Increased number of Orphans due to HIV/AIDS scourge - at-least 10 children were identified as Orphans due to HIV/AIDS scourge in each two households in both Kibuku and Bugiri Districts. At-least 8 children were identified as Orphans in a Village due to armed conflict and wars that is during Alice Lakwena guerila wars against the National Resistance Army (NRA). Increased number of needy Children due to absolute poverty. At-least four Children were identified in each household in both Districts. Increased number of Street Children due to HIV/AIDS, Armed conflicts, Wars and Absolute Poverty especially in Bugiri Town Council – Bugiri District and Tirinyi trading Center in Kibuku District. Increased vulnerability of Widows due to HIV/AIDS, Armed conflicts, Wars and Absolute Poverty. At-least two (2)Widows in every ten household were as a result of the HIV/AIDS scourge. One and four were identified as respectively. High vulnerability of the Disabled of almost 35% in each of the two Districts due to lack of a specific Organization to addressing their needs. Poor sanitation hygiene conditions and environmental management and conservation in both Districts. However, the above analyzed were realized to have being caused by high Poverty levels, Diseases and Ignorance were the major roots causing the above which further caused such identified vulnerable groups’ challenges like:-
1. Failure to meet their basic needs like Shelter, Food Security, Education, medication, good Nutrition and Clothing .
2. Failure to support them selves in starting up income generating projects in order to improve upon their incomes for sustainable livelihoods and development.
3. Failure to support themselves in starting up Community Initiatives like Sanitation and hygien clubs for their good health, Proper Environmental management and Conservation clubs for Sustainable Environmental Development.
4. Failure to identify their rights and legal protection as Vulnerable groups. In order to address the above forms of Vulnerabilities, problems and challenges which were identified during the research as facing Orphans and Other Vulnerable Groups (OVCs) and Communities in general in our first Districts of operation (Bugiri and Kibuku), HFC – Uganda activities shall for that matter be serving under a mult-purpose approach ie , shall address education support, Social – economic security support, health, Environmental, Rights and legal Protection support and Vocational skills and talent development issues in bid to capture the following needs of OVC, Widows, Disabled and Communities in general in order to achieve the set objectives, Mission and Vision of the Organization as below:-
• Provision of Educational and Nutritional Support for Orphans due to HIV/AIDS, Armed Conflicts, Wars and Needy Children due to Absolute Poverty in their Households.
• Provision of Social – Economic support to households of such Children by supporting them in starting up income generating Projects, like Piggery, Poultry keeping, Goat Rearing etc and training them in proper Project management.
• Supporting them in Community Initiatives like Hygien and Sanitation clubs, HIV/AIDS club for Promotion of their good health, Prevention of HIV/AIDS and training them in Proper Environmental Management and Conservation skills for sustainable Development.
• Supporting Widows and the Disabled in Vocational skills and talent development Project.
• Lastly, advocacy for the rights and Legal Protection support of the Vulnerable Groups ie the Children, Widows, Elderly and the Disabled.
